Supposed Freemasonry In The South Seas.

ornamented stood around , a placa I can assure you to make any man ' * nerves tingle and quiver . I know mine did , and I thanked my stars I had a wig . When the feeding was over wo left aud tlie prostrating again began , so I got a hint to discrown mysolf and on looking round found all had

stripped off their wi g ^ . Wo remained here three or four days louder ; the town was called " Sena , " and the villagers became quite friendly to mo , only no one else was allowed to land , and when ve l * -t ¦¦ 1 was made half drunk from

eating betel nut , and had lest a small fortune iu tobacco and found myself the owner of half a dozen very leau pigp , and so ended ray introduction to a Solomon Lodge , as I feel such it was . Another Ih ' ncr—all over tho Solomons

I noticed many ot the men wore bracelets , but never tbe women or lads . Here they are , you seo one as the form of a cross on it , and the others peculiar hieroglyphics . I also remarked that when natives of different towns met as strangers , it was these ornamented ones began to talk on

each side . I imagine these things aro Masonic jewellery , something after the style of our pins , rings , & c . I asked some of the natives , whose language I knew , what these birds' heads , & c , meant , hut they refused to answer . Masons are all aware that in consequence of a great crime ,

many of tho old words , signs , & c , are lost to us moderns ; perhaps we may yet recover thom from the black Masonic Lodges . I consider the subject well worth following up by old South Sea residents who are Masons . Evidently the separation from Asia of these South Sea people is of very

ancient date—before tbe dawn of history . It is a curious fact that the Fijians , with all their numerous gods , their worship of ancestors , their fearful cannibalism , never wor . shipped , idols ; had no idea of such a thing . Possibly they separated from the continents before idolatry was

practised on earth . Perhaps some will consider I have inferred a great deal on very slight grounds—perhaps so . I do not think it . There is yet one peculiar rite practised by these South Sea people universally , and that is " circumcision . " This custom is very anoient ; it is referred to in the old

Testament about the time of Abraham . Now , if circumcision has come to the South Seas from Asia , why not Masonry ? And again , this rite is always practised in secret , unknown to the women and children , and is intimately connected with their secret mysteries . I could say

more , but I think I have said enough for one night ; perhaps some brothers in the Sonth Seas and New Guinea will take up this matter . I have only glanced in at the window , who will open the door and give us light " light ?" Australian Keystone .

Perpetual Jurisdiction.

PERPETUAL JURISDICTION .

ri lHERE is a difference of views among some Masonic -L jurists as to the meaning of the term " perpetual jurisdiction in Masonic jurisprudence . " The term is broad if J its interpretation is to be governed by the general

lexicographical definition of the words themselves . But the Masonic meaning depends on the peculiar import given to the idea intended to be conveyed by the use of these words .

To better explain what is tho real purpose of this expression in Masonic language , the occasion for its use should be set out .

A petitioner for the ri ghts and privileges of Freomasonry selects for himself tho Lodge to which he offers his petition . This is his voluntary act . When this petition is presented to the Lodge , it is subjected to the operation of the rules governing in such cases .

_ The Lodge appoints a committeo to make such investi gations and examinations as will justify the Lod ge action ou this petition . If the Lodge Committee reports the petition favourably , then the Lodee

secures exclusive and absolute control , and changes the petitioner into a candidate for the rights and privileges of Freemasonry . If he is unanimously approved , he is read y for further Lodge action . Then he is initiated

as a Mason . This done , the candidate is again changed mto a member of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , in this relation between the petitioner and tbe Mason

J-Joage is the sole and exclusive possessor of jurisdiction over him . This jurisdiction cannot bo severed unless tho i-odge and their members consent , under the regulations of tne Grand Jurisdiction to which tho Lodge is a subordinate .

Perpetual Jurisdiction.

The bond that united the petitioner with the Lodge is a Landmark , unalterable and indissoluble . To perfect the change from a petitioner to a Mason demanded certain proceedings that are unchangeable . As a Mason he is for ever bound by the proceedings on his petition . There

is no Masonic authority , or any other , that can absolve the Mason from the consequences of the proceedings by the Lodge on his petition . So long as he is a member of the Lodge he is subject to all the responsibilities created on his initiation . So long as he is in the Grand Jurisdiction

to which the subordinate Lodge that initiated him is subject he is under that Masonic jurisdiction . The Mason may dimit as it is called from his Lodge , and , under the rules of the Grand Jurisdiction , affiliate with another Lodge in the same jurisdiction . If he goes into any other Grand

Jurisdiction and seeks affiliation with one of its Lodges , he must show his right to ask such Lodge to receive him as a member . Bat all tho while the Lodge that initiated him

holds a Masonic lien on his Masonic life and character , for it gave him his Masonic life . As a parent has a moral control over his son so a Lodge holds a Masonio control over its Masonic child to whom it gave Masonio life .

But the Mason who becomes affiliated with a Lodge in any Grand Jurisdiction is subject to the rules , and lawp , and regulations of the jurisdiction he may at the time I e

subject . If the petitioner first applying to the Lodge is rejected by the Lodge , and thus refused the rights and privileges of Masonry which he petitioned to receive , the bond st 11 exists between the Lodge and the petitioner , because he

voluntarily sought the action of that Lodge and voluntarily submitted himself to its action . Whatever may be the fate of that petitioner if rejected as unworthy to receive the rights of a Freemason , the Lodge that forbade his becoming a Mason on his petition holds its jurisdiction

over him . Why ? Because if the petitioner , by any rule of the Grand Jurisdiction , may be permitted to again apply for the rights and privileges of Masonry , that Lodge must consent , or otherwise if it does not consent , no lawfully warranted and duly constituted Lodge of Freemasons can make him a Mason under the Landmark ns to his

lawful Masonic capacity to receive initiation into . Freemasonry . The jurisdiction of the original Lodge over this petitioner is exercised because , if the petitioner applies to any Lodge in any other Grand Jurisdiction and concea ' s the fact that he had been rejected elsewhere , he deceives

that Lodge , or if it is known , the Lodge violates a comity which is now a usage between Grand Jurisdictions . Thereforo the meaning of perpetual jurisdiction is explained in a Masonic sense . The petitioner by his act asking the Lodge to make him a Mason set up a relation between

himself and the Lodge that cannot be broken . It is perpetual . Another Lodge may act on the petitioner in any Grand Jurisdiction , but its act goes back to the original bond , and that is the basis for all the proceedings taken in the case of the petitioner , by any Lodge of any Grand Jurisdiction of Free and Accepted Masons .

It is the first application that originates the relation of the petitioner to the Craft . That relation attaches to the petitioner from that time . Every Grand Lodge has its Constitution and laws . But that Masonic relation is not

destroyed by any provision of a Grand Lodge law or regulation . This is what is meant by the term " Perpetual Jurisdiction " in the jurisprudence of Freemasonry . It will be perpetual in this Masonic sense , while tbe Landmark is held as unalterable in our Craft . —Keystone .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Mr . W . W . Kelly has taken the Princess's Theatre for fourteen weeks from 21 st July , and will open on that date with a revival of " A Boyal Divorce , " when Miss Grace Hawthorne will resume her impersonation of the Empress Josephine .

This ( Saturday ) evening a new faroioal one act comedy will be presented at the Court Theatre . It SB entitled " Eaithfol James , " and is written by Bro . B . C . Stephenson .

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TIVTDfYD T A VT TfftfVPTf 1 !? The MAMO MWBOB con . XluLJTl / XlX AEl A JX \ JJL 1 * EI . tains invnlnable advino on an important subject to men contemplating marriage . Information ia matters you ought to know . Send for it to-dav , Gratis and Post Free . Address , Tin SECBBIABI , 1 Fitzallan Square , Sheffield .